Gabriel Guerrero
Instrument
Colombian-born pianist/composer Gabriel Guerrero fearlessly navigates the breadth of modern music, imbuing his performances with rhythmic and harmonic influences from South America to the avant-garde and the rich expanses of jazz. Praised by critics as a “Real Improviser” “Accomplished composer with a technique of a magnificent concert hall pianist.” Guerrero elevates his music with a deeper understanding of his roots, adding his own aesthetic and emotional weight to every phrase. Speaking of the drive, direction and roots of music rather than style, Gabriel moved from classical piano, his native rhythms, contemporary improvisation and the avant-garde to the traditions of Be-Bop and Jazz. "Guerrero has exploded on the stage with music of immense maturity" - LATIN JAZZ NETWORK
In 2023 Gabriel Guerrero releases “Equilibrio” on the Origin Records Label; The album earned a near-perfect ★★★★½ stars from DownBeat Magazine, landing it on their “Best Albums of 2024” list. "There's an inviting coherence, a confection of melody that harkens at first back to hard-bop, and then ahead to a distinct futuristic sound." – DOWNBEAT.
The record showcases Guerrero’s refinement as a composer/arranger/producer with ten originals; the music was influenced in part by the journey of personal growth and self-discovery, incorporating experiences from moments such as “Present Moment”, “Permanent Diversion”, and “Belong”. The album features New York-based QUΔΠTUM band with Seth Trachy/sax, Will Slater/bass and Felix Lecaros/drums. This recording was made possible in part by the Queens Council on the Arts’ “New Work Grant”.
"A dazzling pyrotechnician and accomplished composer... FEYAS: This is one of the most startling and rewarding piano-led debuts since Gonzalo Rubalcaba's 1990 Blue Note offering, Discovery: Live at Montreux." Bill Milkowski - JAZZ TIMES. “FEYAS”, Guerrero’s 2012 debut album on Surca Music, features seven original songs and two arrangements. Musicians on the album include the Gabriel Guerrero Trio featuring Jorge Roeder-bass, Eric Doob-drums, plus other line ups including Jerry Bergonzi-sax, Bruce Gertz-bass, among others. The album draws from Colombian rhythms such as Porro, Bullerengue, as well as contemporary jazz songs showcasing Guerrero’s strong intellect and versatility on his writing and arranging.
"Guerrero firmly establishes his voice here as he adds to the remarkably growing literature of Latin American instrumental music" - LATIN JAZZ NETWORK
As a sideman Gabriel can be heard on “Power of Love” the debut record by Herbie Hancock’s long time drummer Gene Jackson’s Trio NuYorx released on Whirlwind Recordings in 2018. “Guerrero evokes classical piano tradition as well as Mulgrew Miller and Keith Jarrett”
-The New York City Jazz Record
In addition, Gabriel is featured in four Bruce Gertz Quintet recordings featuring Jerry Bergonzi/George Garzone, and “Panama Suite” (Artist Share 2008) by the Danilo Perez Big Band featuring Grammy Award Winner Danilo Perez on electric piano and Gabriel on acoustic piano plus a 19-piece big band.
Guerrero has performed/recorded with Dave Holland, Henry Grimes, Paquito D’ Rivera, Steve Coleman, Roy Hargrove, George Garzone, Mike Mainieri, Miguel Zenon, Esperanza Spalding, Matana Roberts, Linda May Han Oh, Rudy Royston, Melissa Aldana, Edmar Castaneda, Adam Nusbaum, Gene Jackson, Dafnis Prieto, John Riley, Mike Clark, Bob Moses, Anthony Branker, Gregg Bissonette, Jamey Haddad, Thana Alexa, Sara Serpa, Sofia Rei, among others. He has also put together various musical projects such as SURCA, a multicultural quartet dedicated to expanding on South American rhythms and avant-garde jazz.
In the year 2020 amid the lockdown, Guerrero released the video/single “Eternal Wind” which was recorded remotely, featuring Argentinean bassist Marcelo Torres and drummer Rudy Royston. In 2021, during the pandemic, Guerrero was invited to be a presenter with the Queens Public Library in New York, providing monthly live streaming solo piano concerts via the library’s Instagram profile.
In Colombia, Gabriel studied classical piano from age five before moving to New York in 1998 to study at Hunter College winning the Concerto/Aria Competition performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto K444 with the Hunter Symphony Orchestra. In 2000 Gabriel won a scholarship to study at The New England Conservatory of Music earning both a Bachelors and a Master’s degree studying with Danilo Perez, Steve Lacy, Fred Hersch, Jerry Bergonzi, and Charlie Banacos. Other teachers include Ran Blake, James Moody, Rufus Reid, and George Russell.
Gabriel made several TV appearances on Colombian TV from an early age through his teens performing both solo and with his band. Gabriel has participated in Jazz festivals in Europe, Asia, South-America, and USA such as Ploiesti Jazz Festival (Romania) Angel City Jazz Festival, Red Hook Jazz Festival, Cape Cod Jazz Festival, John Coltrane Memorial Concert, Lily Pad Piano Festival, IAJE Jazz Convention, KoSA Festival, Ravinia Festival, UIS International Piano Festival, Jazz al Parque, and performed in important venues such as Birdland Jazz Club, Jazz Gallery, Smalls Jazz Club, Regattabar, Scullers Jazz Club, Hard Rock Cafe, ShapeShifter Lab, Greenwich House Inc.
With a distinguished career in music education spanning more than three decades, Gabriel Guerrero currently serves as an Adjunct Faculty member at Columbia University.
Guerrero has conducted masterclasses and workshops at numerous respected institutions, including Berklee College of Music, Frost School of Music at University of Miami, The New England Conservatory of Music, Berklee Global Jazz Institute, The Piano School of New York City, Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music in INDIA, and prominent universities in Colombia such as Universidad EAFIT, Universidad Industrial de Santander among others.
Gabriel is deeply attracted to the idea of unpredictability and surprise in jazz, which he feels is absolutely critical to artistic expression. Saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi appreciates this adventurous quality in Gabriel’s playing. “Gabriel Guerrero brings fresh ideas to his music, he says, When I think he is going left he goes right and when I think he is going right he goes left. He always surprises me, which I love. He brings his Latin Culture to the music in his own inventive way. He is a real improviser.”